The Lagos State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has vowed to ensure that justice is served for the late Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem who was murdered by a trigger-happy policeman in Ajah.
This was contained in a statement made available today by the governor via his official Twitter account as read in part:
“”With utter shock and sadness, I received the news of the mindless shooting of a citizen by a police officer whose primary job function was to protect the same citizen.
“I hereby sympathize with the family, friends and associates of late Bolanle Raheem. I am therefore assuring everyone of the State Government’s full support and cooperation with the police authorities in their investigation to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the shooting, that led to Bolanle’s untimely death, with a view to ensuring that justice is served.
I”I have studied preliminary reports on the matter and have instructed the appropriate Government officers to immediately get on it. We must ensure a speedy justice for the late Bolanle. Our Government cannot sit back and watch our citizens killed by the same law enforcers that should ordinarily protect them.
“I’m aware that the Lagos State police command have arrested, disarmed and detained the police officers involved in the shooting incident. I can assure you that the accused persons will have their day in Court and nothing will be spared under the Laws of Lagos State until justice is served adequately. We will ensure that it is done speedily because justice delayed is justice denied.
“I would also appeal to residents to remain calm and not take the law into their hands on the matter, the State Government will live up to her responsibilities and get justice for the late Bolanle Raheem”.
A renowned politician and elder statesman in Nigeria, Chief. Abiola Ogundokun has advised the Governor of Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke to face governance squarely as it is too early to be distracted.
The Iwo Born politician made this statement during a programme he organised in his hometown where he distributed foodstuffs and financial support to the less privileged.
The veteran journalist questions the Governor, saying it will be strange for the Governor to say he doesn’t know the state is indebted while he was campaigning to be the Governor. He went further to state that all new administration over the world inherits assets and liabilities when they assume power as government is a continuum and therefore advises Governor Adeleke to be focused on providing good governance as time is counting.
Addressing the jubilant crowd, Chief Ogundokun challenged the Governor to publish the details of the acclaimed N18 billion Former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola allegedly borrowed after the July 16 Governorship election. He assured everyone that the APC defeat in the last Governorship election that was allegedly rigged was just a temporary setback as Adegboyega Oyetola will reclaim back his mandate through the judicial process. On that note, he advised APC supporters to remain steadfast, committed and loyal to the party.
Also in his remarks, Chief Ogundokun urges the elated crowd and party stalwart present to redouble their efforts and ensure that all APC candidates emerge victorious in the 2023 General Election. He urges the youths to shun violence and not allow themselves to be used as instrument of destruction by desperate politicians.
He assures the needy and masses present that the food and financial support program that he has been running on quarterly basis since 1976 will continue as long as he lives on the surface earth and therefore tell them that they can count on him not to leave them forsaken.
Present at the program includes the APC Senatorial candidate for Osun West; Dr. Hamidu Tadese, Alh. Omobola Yusuff, Alh. Fatai Abubakr among others.
In his own address, the APC Senatorial hopeful, Dr. Hamidu Tadese thanked the masses for their loyalty and support, imploring them to remain steadfast and ensure a total victory for APC candidates from Top to Bottom in the 2023 General Elections.
The trigger-happy policeman that shot a female lawyer in Ajah, Lagos has been finally identified as ASP Ayuba, of Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah.
The Police officer who murdered the pregnant lawyer, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem, on Christmas day while the victim was returning from Church with her husband confirmed to have been arrested.
Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem is a member of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
It was gathered that the family was on its way back from church when the incident happened under the Ajah bridge and near the police station.
The alleged killer cop and his other two accomplices who were members of his team have been arrested.
It was learnt that the policemen were allegedly extorting motorists on the highway and had asked Raheem’s husband, who was driving to park their vehicle.
“The officer asked them to park and they needed the vehicle in front to move so they can park well, and immediately the police officer shot at a close range right into her chest.
“On seeing what happened, the remaining police officers on duty there absconded.
“After a while, some policemen came and moved her body to the mortuary in Yaba, without obtaining any consent from her family members.
Confirming the incident, spokesman for the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the incident ad unfortunate and avoidable.
He confirmed that the alleged shooter and two other of his team members were in detention and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further action.
“Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody.
“They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation,” he said.
The grieving man that is holding his head with his two hands in the photo is the husband of the deceased lawyer. He could barely utter a word while we were in his house.
This is how terrible our country has become. The police that is supposed to protect citizens is killing Nigerians with impunity.
A member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Lagos Branch Mrs Omobolanle Raheem has been killed by members of the Nigeria Police force.
The ugly incident took place Sunday morning at Ajah Under Bridge, Lagos state while the deceased was on her way back from Christmas church service.
A member of Lagos branch and a lawyer working with the deceased revealed that some policemen moved the body to the mogue in Yaba without the consent of the deceased’s family.
According to a statement by closed associate of the slain lawyer as obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS which reads “I am Barr. Yvonne a member of the NBA Lagos Branch, Sir I tried reaching out to you but I guess you are busy.
“My boss Barr Omobolanle Raheem was shot dead today, by a POLICE OFFICER on her way back from Xmas service at Ajah under bridge. Her family just called me now, that they need a lawyer to stand in for them before the police changes the narrative. They have taken the matter to Ajiwe Police Station.
“The police officer is from Ajiwe station. Her husband was the one driving, Barr. Omobolanle was seated in the front with her husband.
“The officer asked them to park and they needed the vehicle in front to move so they can park well, and immediately the police officer shot at a close range right into her chest. On seeing what happened, the remaining police officers on duty there absconded.
“After a while, some policemen came and moved her body to the mortuary in Yaba, without obtaining any consent from her family members. Currently her family has located where they moved her body to. “I am currently not in Lagos , I thought of bringing this to you for your assistance and guidance ma. Thank you.”
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has declared that there is no law in Osun state which empowers a Governor or his appointees to Bolt away with government vehicles, challenging ex-governor Oyetola’s team to cite the name and date of enactment of the supposed fake law.
Reacting to questions from journalists at Osogbo, the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed said “what the law provides is possibility of auctioning of public properties if need arises for such, submitting that such an exercise must past through due process with application of auctioning regulations and procedures.
“In this case, there was no auctioning of those vehicles. No tender payment, bidding and opening exercises. Without any legal foundation, vehicles cumulatively worth about N3.5 billion were shared out. Then, the affected officials admitted and are still laughably justifying illegality bordering on criminal infraction.
“Citing of non-existing law is embarrassing to those affected and the State as a whole. How can learned people be relying on such an illegal foundation instead of immediately returning government vehicles to the pool without further delay?
“As thing stands, the only law that will apply now except the vehicles are returned, relates to criminal theft of public properties and this will be invoked in the next forty eight (48) hours.
“Past officials have admitted bolting away with government vehicles. We have detailed records of all missing vehicles and which official is holding them. The Asset Recovery Committee will launch out on re-possession and retrieval exercise in line with stipulations of the law.
“If Oyetola’s administration had done proper handover through coordinated transition, the team would have been saved the embarrassing scenario of appropriating government properties without any legal basis.
“Just as the past government misgoverned the State probably on false advice, sheer ignorance or deliberate wickedness, its officials went away with government vehicles using tradition as law and exposing themselves and their principal to criminal trial”, the Spokesperson concluded in the chat with journalists on Christmas Day
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on Saturday shut the popular Quilox Club on Ozumba Mbadwe Street, Victoria Island for its failure to comply with directives on organising events and not obtaining a sound control permit from the Agency. The enforcement exercise, which was jointly carried out by the officials of the agency and the Lagos State Task Force, was also a result of several complaints made by residents in the area.
Reacting to the exercise, General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe disclosed that the agency received several distress calls with video evidence from concerned neighbours to support their claims on alleged environmental nuisances being perpetrated by the club without consideration to the rights of other residents to a peaceful environment.
“To avert a situation like this, we recently held a stakeholders’ parley with the Owners/Chief Executive Officers of night clubs in the State to address the issue of noise pollution, particularly during the festive period. Lagos had earlier increased the decibels to accommodate leisure/hospitality business interests. We, however, urged them to apply for sound control permits before hosting events to enable us to reach out to the host community of the intended programme and further deploy our officials to the venue for proper monitoring and prevention of excessive noise pollution”, she explained.
According to her, an invitation was extended to Quilox Club, like every other stakeholder, but it was ignored by the management for reasons best known to them. She noted that no individual or group is bigger than society, adding that the Agency is still making efforts to ensure that all interests are protected under the law.
“Entertainment and Lagos are like a conjoined twin, thus our prolific intervention to preserve the sanctity of the State and at the same time sustained its economic relevance through aggressive environmental sustainability drive. To support the entrepreneurship interest of the operators. We came up with a communique which serves as a bond guiding all parties on the mode of operations during the yuletide period and the attendant consequences for non-compliance to the agreement”, Fasawe added.
Deposed traditional ruler of Eko-Ajala in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State, Sunday Akinwale, has narrated his ordeal in the hands of men of the Amotekun corps and thugs who chased him out of his palace after beating him to stupor.
Akinwale who was installed as the Olunlosin of Eko Ajala under the prescribed authority of the late Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Olawale Adedeji was removed last year by the Elende of Ekoende, Oba Rauf Olaniyan who is currently the prescribed authority of the town.
Before his removal from the stool, Akinwale said the Elende of Ekoende had on several occasions threatened to deal with him by removing him as the traditional ruler of the town.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of hoodlums who stormed his palace, Akinwale said he was beaten to a pulp before he was finally chased out of the palace by the thugs and a certain Amotekun officer.
He said “the hoodlums broke the door to the palace in the midnight and entered into my bedroom where I was sleeping together with some members of my family.
“They dragged me out of the room, tore my clothes, and beat me. They forcefully ejected me and members of my family from the palace after beating us and didn’t allow us to take anything from the palace.
“The thugs burgled the palace and took away some of my personal belongings and my wife’s valuables. They also vandalised my car and some other artifacts in the palace.
“I was not allowed to take anything from the palace, not even my clothes. I was beaten (and chased) out of the palace at night and all my clothes were left inside the palace. The matter was reported to the police and nothing was done about it,” he added.
However, he said he had through his counsel, Mr Wale Afolabi petitioned the committee set up by the state government to address chieftaincy matters in the state.
At the sitting of the committee on Wednesday where Akinwale and the kingmakers of the town appeared, the kingmakers and all the traditional chiefs of the town expressed confidence in the leadership of Akinwale, saying that they were solidly behind the monarch and ready to work with him.
Also, he appealed to the state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke to intervene in his travail and ensure that justice prevails to avoid violence in the town.
The Osun State Government on Sunday said its free train service for holiday makers during festive periods has not been cancelled.
The government also said the new administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke could not however provide the service this festive period due to certain challenges it encountered towards planning and execution of the initiative.
For the first time since year 2011, free train service sponsored by the state government for people coming to Osun State from Lagos and Ogun to celebrate Christmas and new year, was not provided.
The initiative, introduced by the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, ran throughout his tenure as governor, while his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, also continued with it when he became governor in 2018.
The Immediate Past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State and Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Intra-Party Affairs, Alhaji (Chief) Kunmi Mustapha has described the first term tenure of the Governor Seyi Makinde as unequalled in the areas of provision of dividends of democracy to the people of the State.
Mustapha said this in a statement he made available to ODUDUWA NEWS on Saturday on the commemoration of the birthday ceremony of the Governor, which holds on Sunday, the 25th of December, adding that no other administration has performed to the satisfaction of the residents of the State like the incumbent.
Mustapha also saluted the Governor for recently approving the appointment of thirty-three Local Government Education Secretaries, he pointed out that the move will go a long way to booster educational progress of the State.
“Our amiable Governor is celebrating his birthday and the people of Oyo State at home and abroad are celebrating with him, he is not just a Governor like the rest, he is exemplary in action and programmes that have catapulted the name of our State to an enviable height in good governance.
“Governor Makinde’s name resonates quality leadership and accountability, should we talk about his litany of achievements in the education, healthcare, human development among other areas? He has proved that he is unequalled among his peers.”
Alhaji Mustapha used the occasion to rejoice with the people of the State on the Christmas celebration, praying that the season will usher in good tidings for the people.
He called on the people to exercise their voting right to elect Governor Seyi Makinde for second term so as to continue benefiting good governance as experienced in the first term of the administration.
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC has condemned the attack on Engr. Omowaiye Oluremi , former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure and some other APC members by suspected Peoples Democratic Party’s PDP thugs in Ilesa-West Local Government Council Area of the state.
It was learnt that Omowaiye and his supporters were attacked by the PDP thugs at the popular Isida Motor Spare Parts Market in Ilesa in a premeditated and coordinated manner yesterday.
The immediate-past commissioner who hails from Ilesa was in the market to felicitate with the market men and women over the yuletide by donating bags of rice and cow to the market leadership when sporadic gunshots were heard and everyone started scampering for safety.
An eye witness who craved for anonymity disclosed that the thugs shot directly into a Toyota Highlander SUV belonging to Omowaiye as another vehicle was axed and pelted with stones.
During the melee, some of the members of the APC who accompanied Omowaiye to the market were not so lucky as the PDP thugs led by Bayo Falade alias ‘Landlord’, Rotimi Ojo alias ‘Rotimi Abu’, Basit Alli alias ‘Basty’, Tope Ilelowowa, Nurudeen Alowonle, Emeka Chukwujindu, Kola Gbakue, Suyi Orimogunje a.k.a. ‘Suggestion’ and Sunmi Fajemirokun a.k.a. ‘Big Sam’ spareheaded the attack in a broad daylight to the consternation of the people.
It was gathered that some of the victims of the needless attack are the Ward 3 APC Youth Leader of Ilesa-West, Opeyemi Oke, Tosin Adanlawo, Mr Odekunle, Ojo Agboola, Junior Olaojaoke.
Some of the traders who witnessed the sad incident said the thugs were shouting ‘Adeleke’ as they approached the market, which was an indication that they were acting on the instruction of the PDP leaders in Ilesa-West with the full backing of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Omowaiye who confirmed the incident said the APC members who were injured during the attack have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment but queried why a peaceful man like him would be a subject of assassination by the powers that be in the state.
The former commissioner disclosed that the incident has been reported at Ayeso Police Station, Ilesa, and asked the security authority to investigate the incident with a view to bringing the culprits and their masterminds who are known faces in the community to book.
In his statement issued yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, the Acting State Chairman of the APC who bemoaned the attack on Omowaiye and his supporters stated that it was unacceptable, barbaric, cruel and condemnable.
Lawal tasked the state commissioner of police and other security agencies in the state to rise up to their responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives and property of the people irrespective of their political leanings.
He stated that there should not be a sacred cow in the efforts to unravel those behind the shameless and inhuman activities against the members of the opposition.
The state acting APC chairman explained further that it was appalling, worrisome and disturbing that the state has not known peace since Adeleke was inaugurated as the governor of the state less than one month ago.
He hinted that it was a pity that the hitherto one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria is fast sliding to an abode of anarchy, violence and visible oppression under the administration of PDP-led administration of Governor Adeleke.
Lawal enjoined the security agencies to perform their statutory duties without fear or favour in the overall interest of the safety of the people of the state.
He reminded the PDP leadership in the state to tame their human instruments of terror and death as the ruling party does not have monopoly on violence.
